Drag Race Germany is a German reality competition series, based on the original American series, RuPaul's Drag Race. The series is broadcast on MTV and Paramount+ in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and on WOW Presents Plus internationally.
| Drag Race Germany | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Reality competition |
| Based on | RuPaul's Drag Race |
| Directed by | Maximilian Schmige |
| Presented by | |
| Judges |
|
| Opening theme | RuPaul's Drag Race Theme |
| Ending theme | Rock It (To the Moon) |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Original language | German |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | 5 September – 21 November 2023 |
Drag Race Germany is the fifteenth international adaptation of the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, following Chilean, Thai, British, Canadian, Dutch, Australian and New Zealand, Spanish, Italian, French, Filipino, Belgian, Swedish, Mexican, and Brazilian versions.
Production
editOriginally in 2013, the German company Phantomfilm acquired the production rights to create a German adaptation of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1] World of Wonder, the production company behind RuPaul's Drag Race, confirmed the upcoming adaptation by releasing a teaser trailer featuring RuPaul.[2][3] Taç Romey, the spokesperson for Phantomfilm at the time, announced that there would be little changes to the format, other than it having greater focus on comedy to adapt to the country's market, and that the show was going to air on a mainstream network, although the company was still negotiating with various channels for the broadcast.[1] Ultimately, the company's licensing rights expired, which lead to a second attempt of producing Drag Race in Germany.
In 2019, RedSeven Entertainment has opened casting for a reality competition focused about drag queens. The show, with the name of Queen of Drags, aired in the same year on ProSieben.[4] Bambi Mercury, one of the contestants on the show, later revealed in a podcast that the series was supposed to be a German adaptation of Drag Race franchise. However, after RedSeven failed to get licensing rights, the production company was forced to change the format of the show.[5]
On August 8, 2022, World of Wonder posted three casting calls on social media.[6] The casting calls were for new potential Drag Race adaptations in Brazil, Germany, and Mexico.[7][8] The deadline for the potential competitors was set for August 26, with the deadline for audition video submission set for September 9, 2022.[9] In December, it was confirmed that the new editions of the Drag Race franchise will premiere "on MTV/Paramount+ in their respective territories."[10]
Barbie Breakout and Gianni Jovanovic were confirmed as hosts and head judges in August 2023.[11] A third judge, American fashion designer Dianne Brill was confirmed the next day, as well as the premiere date, which was set for September 5.[12] The cast was revealed on August 15, 2023, featuring contestants from all over the DACH zone.[13]
The winner of the first season of Drag Race Germany, is Pandora Nox from Vienna, Austria. This also makes her the first AFAB winner in the history of the franchise.
Contestants
editAges, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pandora Nox | 29 | Vienna, Austria | Winner |
| Metamorkid | 24 | Vienna, Austria | Runners-up |
| Yvonne Nightstand | 29 | Berlin, Germany | |
| Kelly Heelton | 41 | Wiesbaden, Germany | 4th place |
| Loreley Rivers | 24 | Düsseldorf, Germany | 5th place |
| Victoria Shakespears | 29 | Basel, Switzerland | 6th place[a] |
| Nikita Vegaz | 38 | Berlin, Germany | 7th place |
| Tessa Testicle | 25 | Basel, Switzerland | 8th place |
| LéLé Cocoon | 23 | Frankfurt, Germany | 9th place |
| The Only Naomy | 22 | Cologne, Germany | 10th place |
| Barbie Q | 25 | Munich, Germany | 11th place |
Notes:
- ^ Victoria Shakespears was voted Miss Darling by fellow contestants.
Contestant progress
editLegend:
| Contestant | Episode | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[16] | 2[17] | 3[18] | 4[19] | 5[20] | 6[21] | 7[22] | 8[23] | 9[24] | 10[25] | 11[26] | 12[27] | |
| Pandora Nox | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | RW | BTM | SAFE | WIN | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | Guest | Winner |
| Metamorkid | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | BTM | Guest | Runner-up |
| Yvonne Nightstand | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | TOP2 | WIN | Guest | Runner-up |
| Kelly Heelton | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | Guest |
| Loreley Rivers | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | BTM | BTM | ELIM | Guest | Guest | ||
| Victoria Shakespears | BTM | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | ELIM | Miss D | Guest | |||
| Nikita Vegaz | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | Guest | ||||
| Tessa Testicle | BTM | SAFE | BTM | BTM | ELIM | Guest | Guest | |||||
| LéLé Cocoon | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | FF[a] | ||||||
| The Only Naomy | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | Guest | |||||||
| Barbie Q | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | Guest | ||||||||
- Notes
- ^ The Fan Favourite was not announced on the show.
Lip syncs
editLegend:
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Eliminated | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[16] | Tessa Testicle | vs. | Victoria Shakespears | "Lieben wir" (Shirin David) |
None |
| 2[17] | Barbie Q | vs. | Victoria Shakespears | "Break My Heart" (Dua Lipa) |
Barbie Q |
| 3[18] | Tessa Testicle | vs. | The Only Naomy | "Holding Out for a Hero" (Bonnie Tyler) |
The Only Naomy |
| 4[19] | LéLé Cocoon | vs. | Tessa Testicle | "About Damn Time" (Lizzo) |
LéLé Cocoon |
| 5[20] | Pandora Nox | vs. | Tessa Testicle | "Atemlos durch die Nacht" (Helene Fischer) |
Tessa Testicle |
| 6[21] | Loreley Rivers vs. Nikita Vegaz vs. Victoria Shakespears | "Flowers" (Miley Cyrus) |
Nikita Vegaz | ||
| 7[22] | Loreley Rivers | vs. | Victoria Shakespears | "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (Hex Hector Dance Mix)" (Deborah Cox) |
Victoria Shakespears |
| 8[23] | Loreley Rivers | vs. | Pandora Nox | "Chandelier" (Sia) |
Loreley Rivers |
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Winner | ||
| 9[24] | Metamorkid | vs. | Yvonne Nightstand | "Rock Me Amadeus" (Falco) |
Metamorkid |
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Eliminated | ||
| 10[25] | Kelly Heelton | vs. | Metamorkid | "Heart to Break" (Kim Petras) |
Kelly Heelton |
| Episode | Final contestants | Song | Winner | ||
| 12[27] | Metamorkid vs. Pandora Nox vs. Yvonne Nightstand | "Rise Like a Phoenix" (Conchita Wurst) |
Pandora Nox | ||
Guest judges
editListed in chronological order:
- Shirin David, singer-songwriter and rapper (episode 1)[16]
- KonstantinosTheStylist, fashion designer (episodes 3 and 5)[18][20]
- Denis We, choreographer (episode 4)[19]
- Raffaela Zollo, YouTube personality (episode 6)[21]
- Estefania Elisa, social media personality (episodes 7, 8 and 9)[22][23][24]
- Sasha Velour, winner of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (episode 10)[25]
Special guests
editGuests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
Episode 1
- Walter Gomez, photographer
Episode 3
- Nubia Ortega, musician and vocal coach
Episode 12
- Norvina, president of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Willkommen in Deutschland" "Auftakt" | 5 September 2023 | |
|
Eleven new queens enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a Bavarian Princess photoshoot. Pandora Nox wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens present their signature drag look on the runway. On the runway, category is Signature Drag Look. Barbie Q, LéLé Cocoon and Pandora Nox receive positive critiques, with Pandora Nox winning the challenge. Nikita Vegas, Tessa Testicle and Victoria Shakespears receive negative critiques, with Nikita Vegas being safe. Tessa Testicle and Victoria Shakespears lip-sync to "Lieben wir" by Shirin David. They both win the lip-sync and no one goes home.
| ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Fetish" "Fetisch" | 12 September 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens get into quick drag and run on a treadmill. Yvonne Nightstand wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create an outfit made from fetish materials. On the runway, category is Fetish. Loreley Rivers, Pandora Nox and Tessa Testicle receive positive critiques, with Loreley Rivers winning the challenge. Barbie Q, Kelly Heelton and Victoria Shakespears receive negative critiques, with Kelly Heelton being safe. Barbie Q and Victoria Shakespears lip-sync to "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa. Victoria Shakespears wins the lip-sync and Barbie Q is the first queen to sashay away.
| ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Dragort: The Rusical" "DRAGORT" | 19 September 2023 | |
|
For this week's main challenge, the queens perform in Dragort: The Rusical (CSI: Drag - The Crime Rusical).
On the runway, category is Glitter Party. Kelly Heelton, Metamorkid and Victoria Shakespears receive positive critiques, with Metamorkid winning the challenge. Tessa Testicle, The Only Naomy and Yvonne Nightstand receive negative critiques, with Yvonne Nighstand being safe. Tessa Testicle and The Only Naomy lip-sync to "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. Tessa Testicle wins the lip-sync and The Only Naomy sashays away.
| ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Funny Shops" "Lustige Geschäfte" | 26 September 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Kelly Heelton wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and film a commercial selling an "impossible product".
On the runway, category is Night of a Thousand Angie's. Nikita Vegaz wins the main challenge, and Pandora Nox wins the runway challenge. LéLé Cocoon, Loreley Rivers and Tessa Testicle receive negative critiques, with Loreley Rivers being safe. LéLé Cocoon and Tessa Testicle lip-sync to "About Damn Time" by Lizzo. Tessa Testicle wins the lip-sync and LéLé Cocoon sashays away.
| ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Barbie Salesh" "Barbie Zalesh" | 3 October 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens team up and play "Zack Zack" (Chop Chop), in which teams will have to guess three terms in 3 minutes. Metamorkid, Loreley Rivers, Pandora Nox and Tessa Testicle win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens will improvise in a courtroom drama.
On the runway, category is Rave Parade. Loreley Rivers, Metamorkid and Victoria Shakespears receive positive critiques, with Loreley Rivers winning the challenge. Nikita Vegaz, Pandora Nox and Tessa Testicle receive negative critiques, with Nikita Vegaz being safe. Pandora Nox and Tessa Testicle lip-sync to "Atemlos durch die Nacht" by Helene Fischer. Pandora Nox wins the lip-sync and Tessa Testicle sashays away.
| ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Snatch Game - Germany Season 1" "Snatch Game at Sea" | 10 October 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens do a split-face photoshoot. Metamorkid and Nikita Vegaz win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. Dianne Brill and Gianni Jovanovic star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consists of:
On the runway, category is Dinner is Served. Kelly Heelton, Pandora Nox and Yvonne Nightstand receive positive critiques, with Kelly Heelton winning the challenge. Loreley Rivers, Nikita Vegaz and Victoria Shakespears receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom three. They lip-sync to "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus. Loreley Rivers and Victoria Shakespears win the lip-sync and Nikita Vegaz sashays away.
| ||||
| 7 | 7 | "Poor But Sexy" "Arm aber sexy" | 17 October 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens perform as rock star groupies. Metamorkid wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create three looks for The German Ball: Dreifache Enthüllung (Three-in-One Reveal), Future Me and Arm Aber Sexy (Poor But Sexy). On the runway, Kelly Heelton, Metamorkid and Pandora Nox receive positive critiques, with Kelly Heelton and Pandora Nox both winning the challenge. Loreley Rivers, Victoria Shakespears and Yvonne Nightstand receive negative critiques, with Yvonne Nightstand being safe. Loreley Rivers and Victoria Shakespears lip-sync to "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (Hex Hector Dance Mix)" by Deborah Cox. Loreley Rivers wins the lip-sync and Victoria Shakespears sashays away.
| ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Comedy Roast" | 24 October 2023 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have to convince Dianne Brill to let them into her club. Kelly Heelton and Metamorkid win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens perform a comedy roast in front of the judges. On the runway, category is A Hairy Affair. Metamorkid and Yvonne Nightstand receive positive critiques, with Yvonne Nightstand winning the challenge. Loreley Rivers and Pandora Nox receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Chandelier" by Sia. Pandora Nox wins the lip-sync and Loreley Rivers sashays away.
| ||||
| 9 | 9 | "Web Show" | 31 October 2023 | |
|
For this week's main-challenge, the queens pair up and star in their own web show.
On the runway, category is Opera Queen. Kelly Heelton, Metamorkid, Pandora Nox and Yvonne Nightstand receive positive critiques. Metamorkid and Yvonne Nightstand are the top two queens of the week and lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco. After the lip-sync, Metamorkid is announced as the winner of the challenge. Barbie Breakout then announces that no one is going home.
| ||||
| 10 | 10 | "Dirndl Makeover" "Makeover" | 7 November 2023 | |
|
For this week's main challenge, the queens makeover Drag Race fans. On the runway, category is Dragtastic Dirndl Makeover. Pandora Nox and Yvonne Nightstand receive positive critiques, with Yvonne Nightstand winning the challenge. Kelly Heelton and Metamorkid receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Heart to Break" by Kim Petras. Metamorkid wins the lip-sync and Kelly Heelton sashays away.
| ||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Reunion - Germany Season 1" "Reunion" | 14 November 2023 | |
|
The queens all return for the reunion. Discussions include: Pandora Nox being the third cis woman to compete on Drag Race, Barbie Q being the first queen from Bolivia, Tessa Testicle's elimination, Victoria Shakespears' lip-syncs, Metamorkid and Yvonne Nightstand's showmance, and the eliminated queens showoff some of their unaired runways. It is then announced that Victoria Shakespears is this season's Miss Darling.
| ||||
| 12 | 12 | "Grand Finale - Germany Season 1" "Finale" | 21 November 2023 | |
|
For the final challenge of the season, the queens perform a lip-syncing dance number to RuPaul's song "Call Me Mother". On the runway, category is Best Drag Look. The eliminated queens all return to the runway. The three finalists are told that they will be lip-syncing to "Rise Like a Phoenix" by Conchita Wurst. It is announced that Pandora Nox is the winner, leaving Metamorkid and Yvonne Nightstand as the runners-up.
| ||||
References
edit- ^ a b "Deutsche Version von "RuPaul's Drag Race" geplant" [German version of "RuPaul's Drag Race" planned]. queer.de (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ RuPaul Drag Race German Edition, 14 August 2013, retrieved 16 August 2023
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race Germany Mood Trailer, 11 September 2013, retrieved 16 August 2023
- ^ "Heidi Klum drag queen show sparks controversy". dw.com. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ GAG - Der Podcast: Episode 10 - Verfotzt mit Väterin Bambi Mercury (in German), 17 January 2020, retrieved 16 August 2023
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (9 August 2022). "'Drag Race' Producers Announce Brazil, Mexico & Germany Editions". Out. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Villa, Lucas (9 August 2022). "Are Mexico & Brazil Finally Getting Their Own 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Spin-Off?". Remezcla. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Schad, Saoirse (16 August 2022). "Drag Race announces season 15, Brazil and other spin-offs - here's all the T". Gay Community News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ Simukulwa, Nali (9 August 2022). "Drag Race confirms new versions in Brazil, Mexico and Germany". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (12 December 2022). "'Drag Race': New Editions Planned For Brazil, Germany And Mexico". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ ""Diese Drag Queen Legende ist bereit auszubrechen und der Name ist Programm 👏 Barbie Breakout ist Hostess unserer aller ersten #DragRaceGermany Staffel 💘 Ab dem 05. September geht es endlich los – nur bei @paramountplusde und weltweit außerhalb von 🇩🇪🇨🇭🇦🇹auf @wowpresentsplus 🌎"". Instagram. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Drag Race Germany on Instagram: "Sie ist nicht nur eine Ikone und eine Legende, sondern auch Teil der Jury der ersten Staffel #DragRaceGermany 🪩💘 Dianne Brill is in the house 🚨 Ab dem 05. September geht es endlich los – nur bei @paramountplusde und weltweit außerhalb von 🇩🇪🇦🇹❤️ auf @wowpresentsplus 🌎 #DragRace #DianneBrill"". Instagram. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ a b Sim, Bernardo. "Meet the Queens of 'Drag Race Germany' Season 1". www.out.com. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Endlich kommt "RuPaul's Drag Race" nach Deutschland – diese elf Queens kämpfen um den Titel". Vogue Germany (in German). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Drag Race Germany | MEET THE QUEENS 🇩🇪". YouTube (in German). 16 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Willkommen in Deutschland". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 1. 5 September 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Fetish". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 2. 12 September 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Dragort: The Rusical". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 3. 19 September 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Funny Shops". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 4. 26 September 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Barbie Salesh". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 5. 3 October 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Snatch Game". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 6. 10 October 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Poor But Sexy". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 7. 17 October 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Comedy Roast". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 8. 24 October 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Web Show". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 9. 31 October 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b c "Dirndl Makeover". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 10. 7 November 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ "The Reunion". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 11. 14 November 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Grand Finale". Drag Race Germany. Season 1. Episode 12. 21 November 2023. MTV / Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
